Controversy over Gautam Gambhir's catch in Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 25: There was controversy in India-England second Test over Gautam Gambhir's catch after the ball hit his helmet grille and batsman Jonny Bairstow was given out on Sunday at Wankhede Stadium.

At the stroke of lunch on day three, Bairstow was given out, caught at silly point by Gambhir off Pragyan Ojha's bowling. Though when lunch was called immediately after the dismissal, most of them missed the incident.

However, replays after replays and various angles showed that the ball first hit Gambhir's chest, then onto his hands then hit the helmet grille and then the Indian fielder completed the catch.

But according to the laws of the game it was not a "fair catch". Batsman Bairstow just walked off thinking Gambhir had taken a clean catch. Even he was not aware that ball hit the helmet.

Tony Hill of New Zealand was at the bowler's end while Aleem Dar of Pakistan was at square-leg when the incident happened.

In the first Test in Ahmedabad, Jonathan Trott was under fire for claiming a catch which clearly hit the ground and replays confirmed he was wrong.

Later, speaking at the end of day's play, Gambhir said he was not aware of the law.

"I haven't spoken about that catch to Dhoni. It just happened in such a quick time I did not realise it. I personally felt that the ball touching the body and grille it is out. Later I came to know it is not out but I did not know it," Gambhir said.

What does the Law 32 (caught) say? Read below about fair catch (from Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of the game)

3. A fair catch

"A catch shall be considered to have been fairly made if

(b) the ball is hugged to the body of the catcher or accidentally lodges in his clothing or, in the case of the wicket-keeper only, in his pads. However, it is not a fair catch if the ball lodges in a protective helmet worn by a fielder.

However, it is not a fair catch if the ball has previously touched a protective helmet worn by a fielder. The ball will then remain in play."